[Avira]
The whip cracked through the air with a whoosh sound just before it landed on my bare skin, biting deep into my flesh. Each hit left a sharp, burning sting on my flesh, and sent currens of pain to my brain. I clenched my jaw with every strength I had left, and mustered every ounce of self control I could afford, to swallow the scream that clawed at my throat.
Twenty!
I counted in my head. Ten more to go. As little as a whimper from me would mean a restart, and I didn't want that. Not after Beta Maverick have had to restart twice. I will have to take it all now, and be done with it.
"I ask again, who broke the earthen vessel?" He thundered. His voice had sounded so suddenly that I flinched. But I provided no answer to his question, like I did in the last thirty minutes. What was I supposed to say? That I broke it?
Hell no!
He lifted the whip again with a smirk, and lowered it in a much stronger force. He enjoyed whipping me as it seemed which was no surprise. The whip landed on the spot that has already been hit, and it took me extra self control to stop myself from screaming in pain.
"Who broke the earthen vessel?" He asked again, and I panicked. If I lie, I will be whipped some more, and If I tell him the truth, I will be whipped even more. What then should I do?
I could feel my wolf whimpering in pain, and I couldn't tell just for how much longer she could hold. He lifted the whip again, his face portraying no emotion. It was as if he was flogging an animal or worse still, a human. Whichever one he thought me as, I have been thought of as worse.
"I didn't do it, I swear. I met it broken when I picked it up to wash. I didn't break it, it must have fallen off from the window sill." I replied quickly before he could lower the whip again. But that did not change anything as he lowered the whip with the same force and it slashed through the skin on my back which was bare.
"I don't believe you." He said with a wicked smile, and I sighed. Whether he believed me or not, there's no way in hell I'm admitting that I broke the earthen vessel when I did not. He must have broken it last night when he shifted.
I tried not to think of the impact of the whip as he lifted it again, and just when he was about to lower it, Kyle's voice called from behind, distracting him.
"Beta Maverick!" Alpha Demian's most trusted servant called in that ever serious tone of his. His presence was an indication that Alpha Demian had an important message to pass to the Beta.
I held my breath, not sure if I have been rescued by Kyle's presence, or only given a temporary moment to rest, but whichever it was, I knew I could use it.
Beta Maverick dropped the whip, and strolled over to meet Kyle who was already halfway to us. He looked briefly towards my direction with eyes that held no emotion, and I looked away. Of course I was not expecting him to be sympathetic. No one has ever felt that way for me, and I was already used to it.
They were walking towards the stock where I was held but stopped a few feet away, and began to speak to each other in hushed voices after which Beta Maverick turned towards my direction, and waved me away.
I got out of the stocks, picked up my clothes from the ground and went into the house, the part of the pack's settlement which was reserved for the Beta. There were alot of chores I needed to do, and I had better start them now. I felt pain with each step I took but the chores were more important unless I enjoyed the whipping I had just received, and was wishing for more.
There was the healing portion of course, but Beta Maverick would rather see me suffer to perdition than give me a drop which is all I need to heal perfectly. But no worries, my wolf had the ability to heal faster than most of the others, although it could only heal once a day, so fuck the healing portion.
I arranged the plates that needed washing on the sink, and leathered up the sponge. If there's any reason I hate being human it was because of dishes. I hate doing the dishes. I might as well remained in the stocks and be whipped nonstop. That's not true but I sure as hell hated doing the dishes.
As I washed, I thought about Kyle's visit, and wondered what important message he had brought to the pack's Beta who doubles as my master, or parent when we are in good terms with each other. Whatever had made Kyle leave the Alpha's part of the mansion to ours, must be damn important.
I tiptoed to see if they were still out there, and yes, they were, and their voices were hushed still even though they were alone. I rushed through the dishes, and went into laundry immediately. If I was fast enough, I'd be done by noon which was about four hours away.
The clothes were a large heap, making me wonder just how many people lived with us even though it was just the Beta and I. The fact that I did as much laundry as this just yesterday caused me to wonder just how the Beta managed to wear all of these robes on a single day. There was lunch to prepare also, and I was already tired but the heap remained what it was – a heap despite the number of clothes I had washed.
I took the clothes I had washed to spread them on the line outside, and also as a disguise to know if they were done talking yet but they weren't there anymore, and my guess was that they had gone to the Alpha's quarters where the pack's palace was located.
Quickly, I spread the clothes on the line, and rushed back inside, then with the speed of lightning, I selected the clothes from the heap which weren't dirty, most of which I had washed yesterday or sometime ago, dunked them inside the bowl of clean water, and spread them on the line to dry. By the time I was done, only a few clothes that actually needed washing remained, and I had enough energy to see to lunch, and get every room in this quarter cleaned.
I finished less than an hour later, and headed for the kitchen. There, as is my daily routine, although secretly, I made myself a steamy cup of tea but not before shutting the door. Breakfast was forbidden, and only the Alpha Demian could have breakfast. Not even his Luna or any of his sons. Just him!
Of course I had laughed out loud in my head when the Beta had told me the rule the day I was handed over to him, it was the same way I had laughed the first time I heard of it, just as I laughed at many other laws of the pack. Laws I thought to be nothing but barbaric.
My mouth was stuffed with bread as I greedily drank from the steamy cup. My wolf whimpered lowly as the tea burned us both but this was not the first time. I was already used to getting burned on the tongue each morning, she should too.
"Avira!" Beta Maverick's voice sounded so suddenly, making me swallow a mouthful of the hot liquid in panic. My eyes darted to the door just then, to confirm that it was locked.
I dashed into a dark corner in the kitchen, with my hand tightly wrapped around the steamy cup. There was no time to nurse my stinging tongue or throat as the Beta's voice sounded from right outside the kitchen door.
I didn't dare answer because the cup was still half filled with tea as that would be suicidal. Instead, I remained utterly still, and tried to push what was left of the bread down my throat, and as quickly as I could.
"Avira!" Beta Maverick called again, louder this time, and my eyes flung open in fear.